Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-09-29
Celia Logan.

Celia Logan.
4 correspondent of the American Press
Association writes as follows from New
York concerning Celia Logan, the gifted
writer:
The Logan sisters were all talented Eliza
Logan, the eldest, was dramatic star,
whom the elderly theatre goers remember
ouy 10 praise Olive is well known as a
writer aud lecturer, while Celia, the ablest
and most uuassuming of all, has made an
bonored name in journalistic literature, both
in this country and Europe.
i distinguished politician, who was beau
iu the days when the Logan sisters were un-
married end famous bellies, speaks with
sparkling eyes Of the beauty of tho Logan
sisters They were like q family of splen
did tigers, with their tswny heads and
ohaugeabe eyes," he said, land Celia was
the one admired most. In addition to be-.
lug handsome she had an air of gen.
tlenes5 about her peculiarly attractive.
This air of gentleness has not left Celia
Logan. Sweet and gracious manners are
hers The tawny bair and changeable eyes
are the same, too. Although born in Phila
cephia, she began hec literary work in
London. where she filled highly RESPONSE
ing houses as critical reader of the manu-.
scripts submitted to the 5ouse and acorrec-
tor and improver of those accepted by it.
Most of them were works Of fiction but
some were scientific, which not every wo-
man, or man either, engaged in literary
work could have taken hold Of At this
time she nlet socially SIS we'll as profession
ally many CT the then prominent men
aad women Of letters of London, by whom
she was recognized as one of the brightest
in the profession. Charles Reade was one
q: her sincerest friends. She it was who
suggested to him the ending for Put Your
self in His Place" she also assisted him in
preparing the chapter which describes the
flood.
While ia London and subsequently, during
several years. residence in France and Italy,
Miss Logan was regular correspondent of
tbs Boston Saturday Ecening Gazette and the
Golden Era Of San Francisco, journals which
then held nigh literary prominence and en-
joyeG particularly sunny hoyday Of pros
perity. She also Won considerable fame as
8 writer OF short stories for tho magazines of
England and this country.
She married abroad during our civil war,
but returned to this country soon after it
ended and has remained here ever since.
She lived in Washington writing stories and
corresponding for several journals. AT
length she became associate editor Of Don
Piatt'a paper, The Capital, so distinguished
at that time as the wittiest and most speak
your-nind journal in existence. Many of
tho vigorous editorials which made it ia.
nous were written by Celia Logan, though,
OF course. that fact was only known within
The CdpitdL office, and 10 few outsiders
vino were closely connected with the career
OF The CAPITAL AS is the case of hundreds
of other journalistic writers, it has been her
fortune to do much of her best work in this
impersonal way, and so lose the credit of
what would have made her famous.
In addition to her original writing she has
done much excellent work as translator
from thu French and Italian. Curiously
enough, her FIRST efforts in that field were
made in converting American war news
from English into Latin. She lived in Mi
Ian, Italy, during the late war. The facili
ties of the Milanese press for obtaining
American war news were then much below
what was demanded by the importance of
the occasion. Miss Logan was known as
one Of The literati, and as it WAS understood
! that she regularly received news from her
| own country concerning the struggle which
then engrossed the attention of the civilized
world the directors of the Milane5e press
appealed to her for aid. Not then being
| sufficiently acquainted with Italian to trans.
/ late into that language, and English being q
sealed book &c Milanese journalists. com,
promise suggested by her was tried and
provei to be happy solution OF the diff
Guilty She first put the American war news
| into Latin and then the Journalists turned
| the Latin into Italian.
Another important branch of Miss Lo-
gan's literary work has been the rewriting,
adapting and transating of plays. AS
! in the case OF so much OF her editorial
work. the credit of what she has done
in this direction has gone to others,
who have won fame and fortune by
he. combined literary and dramatic tai
ent. One of her WORKS, the drama, IAN
American Marriage" has been eminently
successful in winning both the plaudits OF
the public and the appreciation of the press.
Her intimate relations with the stage have
given her unusual advantages for critical
| Judgment upon it and literary work pertain
ing to it. She contributed to the Sunday
Dispatch few years ago long series OF
articles under the title, "These Our Actors" "
which attracted much favorable comment.
"Gaston Cadol," adapted by Celia Logan
for Frederick Werde, the tragedian, will be
produced at the Windsor Theatre, New
York, next month.
As poet Miss Logan fret became known.
Some of her earlier versi6ed productions en-
titled her to rank with the best of America IS
minor poets. Her mind is analytical, more
logical than is generally expected of woman.
Her style in writing, though graceful and
replete with charming fancy, is condensed
and forceful in consequence of her journal
istic training. For seyera! years past she
has been q resident of New York. but is
now in Alexandria, Va. Not being blessed
with as good health as in the past, she does
less writing than she did few years ago.
The gifted lady referred to above is the
wife OF Mr.. J. H. Connolly, and is now 9